Dear Minister Joly:
It is with deepening sorrow that The United Church writes again within the same week urging you to take urgent and immediate action to protect Palestinian human rights. Today, thousands of Palestinians gathered in occupied East Jerusalem to pay their respects to murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as she was laid to rest. Eyewitnesses present on the ground have told The United Church that mourners were beaten by Israeli police as they carried Abu Akleh's coffin to Mount Zion Cemetery to be buried beside her parents. Canada must condemn the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, and demand an independent investigation into her killing.
Reports on autopsy results carried out on the body of Shireen Abu Akleh say that she was killed by a bullet to the head which struck underneath the protective metal helmet she wore. She was also clearly identified as press and could not have been misidentified as an immediate threat. B'Tselem, a highly respected Israeli human rights organization and a United Church partner, has stated that its initial investigation proves that the Israeli army narrative about the shooting of Abu Akleh is untrue. A thorough and independent investigation is crucial.